Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent a strong message today, calling for the protection of Dalits and punishment for fake cow vigilantes, issues over which his party, the BJP, has been facing opposition fire. During his maiden visit to Telangana, he asked people to stop politics over Dalits, asking people to protect Dalits and other exploited sections. "If you have a problem, if you feel like attacking someone, attack me, not my Dalit brothers. If you want to shoot anyone, shoot me, not my Dalit brothers," he declared in Hyderabad.